Compton CHP dispatcher used law enforcement database in $3.3M fraud scheme, feds say

A California Highway Patrol dispatcher allegedly used a law enforcement database to find a prison inmate's personal ID information — using it to fraudulently obtain COVID jobless benefits as part of a larger $3.3 million fraud scheme involving four other people, prosecutors said.

Erica Abson Robins, a 57-year-old Compton resident, is facing federal charges alongside her husband, Ronald Lee Robins, 62, who is currently incarcerated at the same prison as the inmate whose information she allegedly stole, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central District of California. He is serving time in state prison for first-degree burglary. While incarcerated, Robins allegedly collected the Social Security numbers and dates of birth of other inmates, which prosecutors say were then used by two other defendants to obtain COVID jobless benefits.

Diane Theus, 78, and her daughter, Janet Theus, 44, used the inmates' personal information to submit fraudulent COVID-19 unemployment assistance applications, which reported the applicants had suffered pandemic-related job losses, according to federal prosecutors. Erica Robins also allegedly submitted such fraudulent applications. She and the Lancaster mother and daughter would all get ahold of the COVID cash benefits through ATM withdraws, prosecutors said.

An indictment unsealed Thursday also lists a fifth defendant, Dailen Spears, 24, of Carson. They have all been taken into federal custody in connection with a 10-count indictment alleging they fraudulently obtained $3.3 million in COVID unemployment benefits.

However, prosecutors allege they did not only target inmates — the stolen identities of children allegedly used most of the time.

As part of the scheme, which allegedly ran from April 2020 to July 2022, the defendants are accused of conspiring to file at least 293 applications for unemployment benefits — about 169 of which were using the identities of children under the age of 18. 

Federal prosecutors said 106 of the unemployment applications used the stolen identifies of children under the age of 10. 

Meanwhile, prosecutors said, at least 17 applications involved inmates' identities. 

Erica Robins allegedly used her position as a CHP dispatcher to look through a law enforcement database holding Social Security numbers and dates of birth and obtain the personal information of an inmate at California Men's Colony state prison in San Luis Obispo. Prosecutors said her husband also got ahold of the personal identification information of his fellow inmates at the prison.

On Wednesday, Erica Robins and Ronald Lee Robins were arrested and Spears surrendered to federal authorities the same day. They were arraigned and pleaded not guilty to all charges in the case, with Erica Robins and Spears released on $10,000 bond.

An April 29 trial date was set while a March 11 detention hearing was scheduled for Ronald Robins, who remains in federal custody.

Janet Theus and Diane Theus surrendered to federal authorities Thursday and were arraigned in federal court in downtown LA.

The following federal charges have been filed against the defendants.

• Erica Robins: two counts of bank fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, one count of unlawful use of unauthorized access devices
• Ronald Lee Robins: one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, one count of unlawful use of unauthorized access devices
• Janet Theus: four counts of bank fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, one count of unlawful use of unauthorized access devices  
• Diane Theus: two counts of bank fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, one count of unlawful use of unauthorized access devices
• Dailen Spears: one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud

Prosecutors said the defendants would face a statutory maximum sentence of 30 years in federal prison for each bank fraud-related count. Meanwhile, Janet Theus, Diane Theus, Erica Robins, and Ronald Robins would each face up to 10 years for the charge of unlawful use of unauthorized access devices.